The Porto Cruise Terminal (Port of Leixões) reaffirms its position as one of the main centers of cruise tourism and as an important economic engine for the Porto region and northern Portugal after successfully completing eleven consecutive embarkation and disembarkation operations of the Mein Schiff 6, from TUI Cruises, between July 2 and September 10, 2026.
The operation presented a significant challenge and a considerable logistical effort, as it involved the largest embarkation and disembarkation operations ever carried out at the Porto Cruise Terminal. All operations were conducted with a high level of efficiency and coordination by the teams involved. In total, 54,351 passengers and more than 10,000 crew members passed through the Porto Cruise Terminal during these eleven embarkation and disembarkation calls: 24,387 embarked, 24,334 disembarked, and 5,630 were transit passengers. The vast majority were German nationals, one of the port's most important source markets today.
The maritime agency and ship assistance services were managed by Capasiar Unipessoal, Lda., while Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services acted as the shore agent, handling passenger travel and logistics.
Built in 2017, TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 6 is owned by TUI Cruises and was constructed by the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The ship is primarily geared towards the German-speaking market and offers a premium vacation experience. It is 295 meters long, 35 meters wide, and has a gross tonnage of 99,500. It can accommodate approximately 2,700 passengers and has a crew of around 1,000.
During these eleven weeks, in which the Porto Cruise Terminal served as its home port, the Mein Schiff 6 made itineraries along the Atlantic coast with stops in Bilbao, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, La Coruña, Vigo, Gibraltar, Tangier, Cadiz and Lisbon.
These operations reinforce Porto Cruise Terminal's position as a leading port for cruise activity and embarkation and disembarkation operations, further solidifying its role as a significant economic driver for the Porto region and northern Portugal. The arrival of these passengers helps attract visitors, generate revenue, and strengthen the region's image as a premium tourist destination.
Most of the approximately 50,000 passengers embarking and disembarking on these stops of the Mein Schiff 6 arrived via weekly charter flights from various German cities, specifically organized to discover Porto and northern Portugal. During their stay, they enjoyed authentic experiences, spectacular landscapes, cultural heritage, and renowned cuisine, directly contributing to the regional economy.
These 11 embarkation and disembarkation operations were joined by another nine carried out in Leixões, bringing the total number of such operations in 2026 to 20. This represents a 67% increase in the number of stops, while the number of passengers has more than doubled compared to the previous year.
According to João Pedro Neves, president of the Leixões Port Authority, this growth "demonstrates the growing confidence of cruise companies in the Port of Leixões and reinforces the port's position as a reference homeport on the European Atlantic coast.".
Looking ahead to 2027, the collaboration between the Porto Cruise Terminal and the German company TUI Cruises is expected to continue strengthening. Following the five successful embarkation and disembarkation operations last year, the terminal has scheduled another six operations for next year, which will involve approximately 30,000 embarking and disembarking passengers and help consolidate the port's position as one of Europe's leading homeports.
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